wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “tooltipster”
wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →
For “tooltipster”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 15. 1 plugin is pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.
wp.org search ranks on
Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.
We add
A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Whitepaper manager – WPH shows at wp.org #6 but places #11 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its — installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Social Media Auto Poster – Schedule & Publish to Buffer places #4 on merit, 4.5★ from 125 reviews, but shows at wp.org #9. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA 200K+ · 4.8★ (430)
wp.org #1 2 
WSMS (formerly WP SMS): SMS and OTP for WordPress and WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.1★ (107)
wp.org #2 3 
WP Wiki Tooltip 200+ · 4.8★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #3 4 Social Media Auto Poster – Schedule & Publish to Buffer 7K+ · 4.5★ (125)
wp.org #9 5 too low 5 
Forms for Mailchimp by Optin Cat – Grow Your MailChimp List 2K+ · 4.4★ (77) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 3 too low 6 
GetResponse Forms by Optin Cat 1K+ · 4.9★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
AWeber Forms by Optin Cat 300+ · 3.7★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #10 3 too low 8 
OrderFusion Lite – Order Filters, Columns & Export for WooCommerce 30+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 4 too high 9 
Recipes Manager – PN — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 4 too high 10 
Campaign Monitor Forms by Optin Cat 200+ · 3.9★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #11 1 too low 11 Whitepaper manager – WPH — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #6 5 too high 12 
Bonaire 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #13 1 too low 13 
MapTip 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 2 too low 14 T Tooltipster 100+ · 4.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 15 
ilGhera Restaurant Booking for WordPress 50+ · 1.7★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #12 3 too high Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.